[sureLoss]

From Friedman's 31 thoughts. Looks like another player also missed the deadline to submit a trade list relatively recently, but lucky for him it worked out.

The forward was traded from St. Louis to Buffalo in the Ryan O’Reilly deal on July 1. The date is significant. Berglund had a full no-trade clause that ended the day before, June 30. He had the right to submit a partial no-trade beginning on Canada Day. For whatever reason, it was late.

Earlier this week, one player (who wished to remain nameless) said, a couple of years ago, he was informed by his team that he and his agent failed to submit their list. He said the GM told him that “we have no intention of trading you, but if something happens, we’re just letting you know we can do what we need to.”

He said they asked the NHLPA for help, but the deadline was the deadline. They’d missed it.

He wasn’t traded. And the next year, you bet the list was on time.

In Berglund’s case, the lapse opened the door. His relationship with the Sabres, tenuous at the start, never got better. He couldn’t stick in the lineup, and we know now that everyone involved was hiding the truth for some time.

We don’t know the full story, so it’s important to be respectful and careful. But, the key question is whether or not Berglund even wants to pursue a grievance. The NHLPA would want to protect his contract, too. Dotchin was all-in from the beginning.

There is not the same certainty with Berglund. It’s hard to explain why, because information is very tight. But, it’s nowhere near the guarantee you would think.

A lot more questions than answers.